Daily Republican., 1887-12-02
AN OPEN 1, ,ErrER
To MISS FRANCES Il WILLARD.

'tale convention OF the Vermont W. |
:. T. u:
Resolved. That we believe Christ as |
heauthor and head of Government,
'hould be recognize d in all political
olat 'orms, and by al societies, and we
Will rejoice to see the day In which a
party dlsti nctly gives such
recognition.
Miss Willard is reported as adding
There is not a W. G. T. U. in the
land that will not echo this"
Mr. Weir, secretary of the National
'eforners, writes to the Christian
Statesmen, II am convinced the thing
to do is 10 appeal I'd r aid in carrying
our Lords cause t trough in the Pro-
hibition party to u he National W. e.
+. u"
Some very serious considerations
are involved in the recent action taken
by the Vermont w. G. T. U. as re-
ported in the Union Signal; and the
possible endorsement by the national
of which you are the
head and representative, will be an
act. in my estimation to be deprecated.
| therefore beg leave to exercise the
Protestant and American privilege of
dissent,
1t 10 impossible for me to understand
the record OF the teaching of Jesus SO
as to claim him al "the author and
head OF government. He emphati.
caliy declared that His kingdom was
not of this world. i Jesus of Nazareth
neither established ecclesiastical nor
civil government. lie founded neither
church nor State. The grea; burden
of his teaching was to pronounce the
relation of humanity to the Father as
one of spirit, and the only worship he
enjoiued was to worship in spirit and
in truth.
How much would this true worship
and love of the spirit be promoted by
grating upon political platforms the
name OF Christ as the Author and
Head of Government.
With your fertile imagination I beg
you to forecast the eff,ct upon the ma
tive honesty and integrity of office
seekers and political partisans, of
making the condition OF place 10 OF.
flee and political power, a religious
test. and the subscribing to claim
that Jesus Christ Is tie "Author and
Head" of our national affairs.
Have we not already enough OF lying
and hypocrisy in our land? Have we
not enough of central,zing power
already depressing the people in
mammon-bred monopoly Shall we
have added religious test to the
motives for sycpphancy, and hypo-
critical pretencet
Dear Miss Willard, are you ready
to lead the large constituency over
whom you WELD so great an influence.
in an attempt to overturn the funda.
mental idea forw hich our revolutionary
ancestors made such fearful sacrifices,
ard to perpe uate and promote which
the United States Constitution was
tIamed-the idea of religious as well
as civil libertyp
Are you ready 20 pronounce against
entire freedom Of thought, speech and
choice in the individual? II so, you
enlist on the side Of despotism agains
liberty, of arrogated authority against
tie most sacred human rights
Have you sd little taith in the di
vine power as to think the name o
God or Christ in o Constitution or po
litical platform will be more effectiv,
to promote Righteousness in clvi'
affairs than the principles of justici
and human rig hts 30 grandly set forth
in our Declaration of independence
and preamble to the United State
Constltutlon2
II cannot be successfully claimed
that the profession Of Christ and th'
fact of church membership are suct
| sure guarantees of honest life, or o
| faithful service to the State, mucl
more of eminent righteousness, that /
| would be an assurance OF fidelity 4
trust and official responsibility, II
man elected to office had subscribed L
a political platform claiming Christ q
the "Author and Head of govern
ment"
1t is quite too easy already for tn
name of Christ to hide multitude c
sins. The Sunday school superinten
dent, the Bible class teacher, tn
church official is shielded from susp
cion by his position and profession VI
til his crimes Of robbery or licentiou!
ness have accumulated to huge prepol
tions.
What we need, Miss Willard, is
practical application in all civic affail
OF the righteous principles OF justic
and fraternity embodied in our Cor
stitution. Fer this we need first of al
| liberty. Without liberty, honesty
patriotism and all the grand achlev,
ments of the last century will be burie
under the smothering pail OF despo
ism.
| No person, no class Of persons, 4
religious body is endowed with righ
ful power 70 dominate over the minC
and consciences OF the people
| 1t was the Spirit Of Truth jest
promised to his followers. The Spir
of Truth is the almighty, illuminating
saving, uplifting, beneticent, redeem
| ing power by and through which a
humanity must be made whole,
| Religious test as qualification ft
civic service would not develop
spirit OF truth. Religious tests and
formal recognition of the name Of Go
or Christ would inevitably become th
lettering gives OF an assumptly
Hierarchy. The Protestant idea an
principle having abnegated itself b
adopting the method OF hierarchi'
authority, would be swept into u
abyss where liberty had already bee
cast, wounded unto death.
No, no, my much respected sister,
must hope that your more mature col
sideration will lead you to O difereI
conclusion and determination. l cal
not believe you want religious liber'
oyerthrown. l cannot think yo
would welcome the reign of hypocrie